Film dispenser

ABSTRACT

A film dispenser for use in unwinding film from coreless film rolls. A first dispenser member is selectively matable with a second dispenser member. The first and second dispenser members can be mated together in at least two angular positions. The position of a radially outward facing surface of the dispenser can be adjusted based on the angular position of the dispenser members so that the dispenser can firmly engage and support film rolls of varying internal dimensions. Each of the dispenser members can have a radially extending support wall. The support walls define complementary interlocking formations. When the dispenser members are mated together, the complementary interlocking formations engage one another to form a rigid connection between the dispenser members. The engaged support walls radially support a central region of the film roll.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationSer. No. 62/141,050, filed Mar. 31, 2015 and entitled “FILM DISPENSER,”which is incorporated by reference for all purposes.

FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to a film dispenser forunwinding film from a film roll and more specifically to a reusable filmdispenser for repeatable use with coreless film rolls.

BACKGROUND

Film from film rolls is often used in packaging applications. Forexample, the contents of a pallet can be bundled together with a stretchwrap film (e.g., a pre-stretched film or a post-stretched film) madefrom a polyethylene resin or other material. Conventionally, stretchwrap film is wrapped around a tubular core defining an axially extendingroll axis passage of the film roll of substantially fixed dimensions.The film is subsequently unwound from the core in use in a packagingapplication. Dispensers can be installed in the core to aid in unwindingthe film from the roll. Conventional dispensers have a hub that extendsinto a roll axis passage of the film roll and engages the core. A handlemember is mounted on the hub for rotation with respect to the hub. Thehandle member can be held in the hand of a user who manually unwinds thefilm from the roll or attached to an automated wrapping apparatus suchas a palletizer. As film is unwound from the roll, the hub and film rollrotate mutually and in a controlled fashion with respect to the handlemember.

The use of cores in film rolls increases the overall cost of the film tothe end user. Coreless film rolls are known to those skilled in the artand provide cost advantages over traditional film rolls. A coreless filmroll has a roll axis passage, but no core inside the passage to keep itsdimensions uniform. Because of the tendency of the film, andparticularly pre-stretch film, to change dimensions after it is woundinto the roll, the dimensions of roll axis passages in coreless filmrolls are highly variable. Moreover, the roll axis passage may havesignificantly different dimensions at different locations along itslength. Thus, traditional film dispensers that are only operable withroll axis passages adhering to strict dimensional requirements are notoperable for use with coreless film rolls of varying internaldimensions. The roll axis passage may be too small to receive thedispenser hub or may cause damage to the film when the hub is inserted.If the roll axis passage is too much larger than the dispenser hub, theroll may rotate or “skip” relative to the hub in use, which is notdesirable. Coreless film rolls also lack the structural rigidity of arigid core. As a result, handling of coreless film rolls can causebowing or other deformation of the roll, particularly as the roll isnearly used up. Moreover, it is essential that changeover from one filmroll to the next be done quickly and accurately. A dispenser hub thatcannot be rapidly and precisely applied will not be used by consumers ofplastic film because of economic inefficiency.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, a film dispenser can be used to unwind film from corelessfilm rolls, each having a roll axis passage including first and secondopenings at opposite ends of the coreless film roll. The film dispensercomprises a first dispenser member having an outer axial end portion andan inner axial end portion opposite the outer axial end portion. Theinner axial end portion of the first dispenser member is shaped andarranged to be inserted into the first opening at one end of thecoreless film roll. The inner axial end portion of the first dispensermember is radially expandable to engage the coreless film roll in theroll axis passage. A second dispenser member has an outer axial endportion and an inner axial end portion opposite the outer axial endportion. The inner axial end portion of the second dispenser member isshaped and arranged to be inserted into the second opening at anotherend of the coreless film roll. The second dispenser member is configuredto engage the first dispenser member. The first and second dispensermembers are selectively positionable relative to one another wheninterengaged in at least a first angular position and a second angularposition. The inner axial end portion of the first dispenser member hasa first radial position upon engagement of the first and seconddispenser members in the first angular position. The inner axial endportion of the first dispenser member is expanded to a second radialposition upon engagement of the first and second dispenser members inthe second angular position. The second radial position is radiallyoutward of the first radial position.

In another aspect, a film dispenser can be used to unwind film fromcoreless film rolls, each having a roll axis passage including first andsecond openings at opposite ends of the coreless film roll. The filmdispenser comprises a first dispenser member having a longitudinal axis,an outer axial end portion, and an inner axial end portion spaced apartfrom the outer axial end portion along the longitudinal axis. The inneraxial end portion of the first dispenser member is shaped and arrangedto be inserted into a first opening of a roll axis passage of the filmroll. The first dispenser member further comprises an axially inwardfacing support wall including a first interlocking formation. A seconddispenser member has a longitudinal axis, an outer axial end portion,and an inner axial end portion spaced apart from the outer axial endportion along the longitudinal axis. The inner axial end portion of thesecond dispenser member is shaped and arranged to be inserted into thesecond opening of the roll axis passage. The second dispenser member isshaped and arranged to engage the first dispenser member. The seconddispenser member further comprises an axially inward facing support wallincluding a second interlocking formation configured for interlockingengagement with the first interlocking formation when the seconddispenser member engages the first dispenser member within the roll axispassage for supporting an axial mid-portion of the coreless film roll.

Other aspects, objects, and features will be in part apparent and inpart pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective a film dispenser installed in a film roll;

FIG. 1A is the perspective of FIG. 1 with the film dispenser explodedfrom the film roll;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal section of the film dispenser installed in thefilm roll;

FIG. 3 is a perspective of a female dispenser member of the filmdispenser;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal section of the female dispenser member;

FIG. 5 is a perspective of a handle member;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary section of the handle member mountedon the female dispenser member;

FIG. 7 is a perspective of a male dispenser member of the filmdispenser;

FIG. 8 is a perspective of the film dispenser with the male and femaledispenser members positioned in a first angular position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective of the film dispenser with the male and femaledispenser members positioned in a second angular position.

FIG. 10A is a section taken in the plane of line 10A-10A of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10B is a section taken in the plane of line 10B-10B of FIG. 9;

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-2, a film dispenser for unwinding film from a filmroll R is generally indicated at reference numeral 110. The filmdispenser 110 includes a female dispenser member, generally indicated atreference numeral 112, and a male dispenser member, generally indicatedat reference numeral 114, that are configured to be inserted throughrespective first and second openings O into a roll axis passage P of thecoreless film roll R. For purposes of this application the femaledispenser member 112 may be considered one of first and second dispensermembers and the male dispenser member 114 can be considered the other ofthe first and second dispenser members. The male and female dispensermembers 112, 114 are mated together within the roll axis passage P ofthe coreless film roll R to form a dispenser hub, generally indicated atreference numeral 116, which engages a radially inward facing surface ofthe film roll to inhibit rotation of the film roll with respect to thedispenser members. The male and female dispenser members 112, 114 aremounted on handle members 118, 120, respectively, for rotation withrespect to the handle members. The handle members 118 are adapted to begrasped by the hands of a user or a fixture of an unwinding apparatus inuse. When a free end F of the film is fixed to an item to be wrapped(not shown) and the handle members 118, 120 are supported, the film rollR and dispenser hub 116 rotate conjointly relative to the handle membersto unwind film from the roll as the dispenser 110 is moved around theitem. As will be apparent, the male and female dispenser members 112,114 include features that enable the dispenser 110 to be repeatably usedwith a plurality of coreless film rolls R having roll axis passages P ofvarying dimensions. Moreover, the dispenser 110 provides structuralsupport for a coreless film roll R when the male and female dispensermembers 112, 114 are received therein.

Referring to FIG. 3, the illustrated female dispenser member 112comprises a single one-piece, unitary structure of, for example,polyethylene, formed, for example, in an injection molding process. Itwill be understood that other materials and/or other manufacturingprocesses may be employed to make the female dispenser member 112 withinthe scope of the present invention. The female dispenser member 112 hasan outer axial end portion 130 and an inner axial end portion 132opposite the outer axial end portion. The female dispenser member 112includes a longitudinal center axis L1. A generally cylindrical body 134includes the outer and inner axial end portions 130, 132. As will bediscussed in further detail below, the inner axial end portion 132 ofthe cylindrical body 134 is configured to be inserted into the firstopening O of the roll axis passage P of the coreless film roll R and anouter axial end portion 130 of the cylindrical body is configured tosecure the dispenser member to the handle member 118 for rotation.

The inner axial end portion 132 of the female dispenser member 112includes four fingers 138. The fingers 138 can be resiliently deflectedin a radially inward direction to be received in the roll axis passage Pof the coreless roll R, and expandable radially outward to engage theradially inward facing surfaces of the film rolls R having roll axispassages of different radial dimensions. Four slots 140 in the inneraxial end portion 132 of the female dispenser member 112 separateadjacent pairs of the fingers 138. As will be discussed in furtherdetail below, the slots 140 act as indexing formations adapted to engagecomplementary indexing formations of the male dispenser member 114 toinhibit angular displacement of the female dispenser member 112 relativeto the male dispenser member. Although the illustrated embodiment usesfour fingers 138 and four slots 140, it will be understood that otherembodiments could use other numbers of fingers and slots withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

The inner end portion of the cylindrical body 134 is shaped to define amating socket 142 configured to receive a portion of the male dispensermember 114. Each of the fingers 138 has a radially inward facing surface144 and a radially outward facing surface 146 opposite the radiallyinward facing surface thereof. The radially inward facing surfaces 144bound a portion of the mating socket 142. When the male dispenser member114 is received in the mating socket, it engages the radially inwardfacing surfaces 144 of the fingers 138 and deflects the fingers radiallyoutwardly to engage the radially inward facing surface of the film rollR in the roll axis passage P. As shown in FIG. 4, an axially inwardfacing interior support wall 150 extending transverse (e.g.,perpendicular) to the longitudinal axis L1 bounds an outer axial end ofthe mating socket 142.

The interior support wall 150 includes a projection 152 (broadly, a“first interlocking formation”) extending axially inward into the matingsocket 142. As will be discussed in further detail below, the projection152 is configured to engage a complementary interlocking formation ofthe male dispenser member 114 to provide a rigid connection between thedispenser members 112, 114 when they are joined together to form thecore hub 116 within the roll axis passage P of the coreless film roll R.Although the illustrated female dispenser member 112 uses the axiallyextending projection 150 to form a rigid connection with the maledispenser member 114, it will be understood that other embodiments canuse other interlocking formations to connect the female dispenser memberto the male dispenser member without departing from the scope of theinvention. In the illustrated embodiment, the projection 152 is radiallycentered within the mating socket 136 on the longitudinal center axis L1so that the projection is likewise radially centered within the rollaxis passage P of the coreless film roll R when the female dispensermember 112 is received therein. In other embodiments, the projection canbe offset from the longitudinal center axis L1 without departing fromthe scope of the invention.

Referring to FIG. 3, eight radially outwardly extending ribs 160angularly spaced apart from one another around the circumference of thecylindrical body 134 extend along the length of the cylindrical bodybetween the outer and inner axial end portions 130, 132. Although theillustrated embodiment includes eight outwardly extending ribs 160, itwill be understood that other numbers of ribs or no ribs can also beused without departing from the scope of the invention. Likewise, theribs can extend axially along different lengths of the female dispensermember 112 without departing from the scope of the invention. Theradially outward facing surfaces of the ribs 160 are configured andarranged to engage and grip the film roll R within the roll axis passageP and thereby inhibit rotation of the film roll relative to the femaledispenser member 112. Outer axial end portions of each of the ribs 160flare radially outward beyond inner axial end portions thereof. Theouter axial end portions of the ribs 160 slope inwardly from adjacentthe outer axial end of the annular body 134. When the female dispensermember 112 is inserted into the first opening O of the roll axis passageP of the coreless film roll R, the outer axial end portions of the ribs160 firmly engage the radially inward facing surface of the film roll Rto provide radial support for the respective axial end of the film roll.The sloped configuration of the outer axial end portions enables theribs 160 to firmly engage the outer ends of film rolls R with differinginternal dimensions.

An inner end portion of each of the ribs 160 extends along the radiallydeflectable fingers 138. In the illustrated embodiment, one rib 160 ispositioned adjacent each longitudinal side of each of the fingers 138.The inner end portions of the ribs 160 are configured to resilientlydeflect radially outward along with the fingers 138. Thus, the radiallyoutward facing surfaces of inner end portions of the ribs 160 areradially deflectable to engage the radially inward facing surfaces offilm rolls R of different inner diameters within their respective rollaxis passages P.

The outer axial end portion 130 of the cylindrical body 134 isconfigured to secure the female dispenser member to the handle member118 for rotation relative to handle member. A collar 166 extendsradially inward from the cylindrical body 134 at an axially outermostend of an annular recess 168 sized and shaped to receive a portion ofthe handle member 118 therein. When the female dispenser member 112 ismounted on the handle member 118, a radially inward facing rotationalbearing surface 170 engages the handle member as the dispenser memberrotates around the handle member.

Referring to FIG. 5, the handle member 118 comprises a cup-shaped body180 having an open outer axial end 182 and a closed inner axial end 184.Four mounting tabs 186 extend axially from the inner axial end 184 ofthe cup-shaped body 180. Each of the four mounting tabs 186 comprises aradially outwardly extending flange portion 188 partially defining acollar-receiving recess 190.

As shown in FIG. 6, the tabs 186 of the handle member 118 are configuredto be inserted into the open outer axial end portion 130 of the femaledispenser member 112 so that the mounting tabs 186 extend axiallyinwardly beyond the retaining collar 166. The collar 166 is received inthe collar-receiving recess 190, and the radially outwardly extendingflange portions 188 are received in the annular recess 168. Preferablythe mounting tabs 186 are resiliently deflectable to permit the radiallyoutwardly extending flange portions 188 to snap over the collar 166 whenthe handle member 118 is inserted into the open outer axial end portion130 of the female dispenser member 112. The flange portions 188 engagethe collar 166 to inhibit the female dispenser member 112 from becomingunintentionally disconnected from the handle member 118. The annularcollar 166 is substantially free to slide along the collar-receivingrecesses 190 relative to the female dispenser member 112. In use, thefemale dispenser member 112 is substantially free to rotate conjointlywith film roll R about the handle member 118 to unwind film from thefilm roll.

Referring to FIG. 7, the illustrated male dispenser member 114 comprisesa single one-piece, unitary structure of, for example, polyethylenematerial formed, for example, in an injection molding process. It willbe understood that other materials and/or other manufacturing processesmay be employed to make the male dispenser member 114 within the scopeof the present invention. The male dispenser member 114 has an outeraxial end portion 200 and an inner axial end portion 202 opposite theouter axial end portion. The outer and inner axial end portions 200, 202are located along a longitudinal center axis L2 of the male dispensermember 114. The inner and outer axial end portions 202, 204 are definedsubstantially by a substantially cylindrical body 204. The inner axialend portion 202 of the cylindrical body 204 is configured to be insertedinto the second opening O of the roll axis passage P of the corelessfilm roll R, and the outer axial end portion 200 of the cylindrical body204 is configured to be mounted on the handle member 120 for rotation.The outer axial end portion 200 is constructed substantially identicallyto the outer axial end portion 130 of the female dispenser member 112.Likewise, the handle member 120 is constructed substantially identicallyto the handle member 118. It will be understood that the male dispensermember 114 is configured to be mounted on the handle member 120 forrotation with respect to the handle member just as the female dispensermember 112 rotates on the handle member 118. In other embodiments,either of the dispenser members could be mounted on the handle membersin other ways without departing from the scope of the invention.

When the inner end portion of the male dispenser member 114 is receivedwithin the roll axis passage P of the film roll R along with the femaledispenser member 112, the male dispenser member is configured to bejoined in mated engagement with the female dispenser member, therebyforming the dispenser hub 116 within the roll axis passage P. As shownin FIGS. 8 and 9, the female and male dispenser members 112, 114, areselectively positionable relative to one another in a first angularposition (FIG. 8) and a second angular position (FIG. 9). As shown inFIG. 7, the inner axial end portion 202 is shaped to define a matingportion 206 of the male dispenser member 114. The mating portion 206 isconfigured to be received within the mating socket 142 of the femaledispenser member 112 in each of the first and second angular positions.In each of the first and second angular positions, the mating portion206 of the male dispenser member 114 engages the radially inward facingsurfaces 144 of the axially extending fingers 138 and thereby deflectsthe fingers radially outwardly. The radially outward facing surfaces 146of the fingers 138 deflect radially outwardly to a first radial positionwhen the female and male dispenser members 112, 114 are joined togetherin the first angular position (FIG. 8) and to a second radial positionradially outward of the first radial position when the dispenser membersare joined together in the second angular position (FIG. 9). Thedifference in radial deflection of the fingers 138 in the first andsecond angular positions enables dispenser hub 116 to engage theradially inward facing surfaces of a plurality of film rolls R (e.g.,coreless film rolls) that have roll axis passages O of different radialdimensions so that the dispenser 110 can be used to dispense film fromeach of the plurality of film rolls.

The mating portion 206 of the male dispenser member 114 is shaped tosubstantially inhibit angular displacement of the female and maledispenser members 112, 114 relative to one another when joined togetherin either of the first and second angular positions. As shown in FIG. 7,the cylindrical body 204 of the male dispenser member 114 has asubstantially annular, radially outward facing surface 208. The radiallyoutward facing surface 208 tapers radially inwardly toward the inneraxial end of the male dispenser member 114. Four indexing splines 210(each, broadly, an “indexing formation”) extend radially outwardly fromthe radially outward facing surface 208 and extend axially from adjacentthe inner axial end to adjacent the outer axial end. In each of thefirst and second angular positions, the indexing splines 210 engagedifferent portions of the female dispenser member 112 to inhibit angulardisplacement of the dispenser members 112, 114 relative to one another,thereby indexing the male and female dispenser members in the respectiveposition. The splines 210 are also capable of gripping the coreless filmroll R in the roll axis passage P to inhibit relative rotation betweenthe coreless film roll and the dispenser 110.

As shown in FIG. 8, when the dispenser members 112, 114 are joinedtogether in the first angular position, the mating portion 206 of themale dispenser member 114 is received in mating socket 142 of the femaledispenser member and the indexing splines 210 are received in theaxially extending slots 140. Each indexing spline 210 engages theopposed angularly outward facing side surfaces of a respective adjacentpair of the fingers 138. The engagement between the splines 210 and thefingers 138 inhibits angular displacement of the female and maledispenser members 112, 114 relative to one another. The substantiallyannular, radially outward facing surface 208 of the mating portion 206engages the radially inward facing surface of the fingers 138 anddeflects the fingers radially outwardly.

As shown in FIG. 10A, when the dispenser members 112, 114 are joinedtogether in the first angular position, the radially outward facingsurfaces 146 of the fingers 138 are deflected to a first radial positionat which the radially outward facing surfaces of opposite ones of thefingers are spaced apart from one another a first distance D1. In theillustrated embodiment, the radially outwardly extending ribs 160 extendbeyond the first radial position of the radially outward facing surfaces146 to engage the radially inward facing surface of the film roll Rwithin the roll axis passage P in use. However, it will be understoodthat the ribs 160 could be omitted from the fingers 138 withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. Because the mating portion206 is tapered, by moving the male dispenser member 112 axially inwardlyor outwardly through the mating socket 142, the radial position of theoutward facing surfaces 146 can be finely adjusted, increasing ordecreasing the length of the first distance D1. Preferably, when thefemale and male dispenser members 112, 114 are joined together in thefirst angular position within the roll axis passage P of the corelessfilm roll R, the axial position of the dispenser members relative to oneanother is adjusted so that the ribs 160 firmly engage (e.g., such as bycausing radial deformation of) the radially inward facing surface of thefilm roll R and thereby inhibit rotation of the film roll with respectto the dispenser hub 116.

As shown in FIG. 9, when the dispenser members 112, 114 are joinedtogether in the second angular position, the mating portion 206 of themale dispenser member is received in the mating socket 142 of the femaledispenser member and the indexing splines 210 are angularly aligned withthe axially extending fingers 138. The radially outward facing surfacesof the indexing splines 210 engage the radially inward facing surfaces144 of the fingers 138. The engagement between the indexing splines 210and the fingers 138 inhibits angular displacement of the male dispensermember 114 relative to the female dispenser member 112. In addition, theengagement between the indexing splines 210 and the fingers 138 deflectsthe fingers radially outwardly.

As shown in FIG. 10B, when the dispenser members 112, 114 are joinedtogether in the second angular position, the radially outward facingsurfaces 146 of the fingers 138 are deflected to a second radialposition radially outward of the first radial position shown in FIG.10A. When the fingers 138 are deflected to the second radial positionshown in FIG. 10B, the radially outward facing surfaces 146 of oppositeones of the fingers are spaced apart from one another a second distanceD2. Like the radially outward facing surface 208, the radially outwardfacing surfaces of the indexing splines 210 taper radially inwardlyadjacent their respective inner axial ends. Accordingly, by moving themale dispenser member 114 axially inwardly or outwardly relative to thefemale dispenser member 112 when the dispenser members are joinedtogether in the second angular position, the position of the outwardfacing surfaces 146 can be finely adjusted. Preferably, when thedispenser members 112, 114 are joined together in the second angularposition within the roll axis passage P of the coreless film roll R, theaxial position of the dispenser members relative to one another isadjusted so that the ribs 160 firmly engage the radially inward facingsurface of the film roll R and thereby inhibit rotation of the film rollwith respect to the dispenser hub 116.

The fingers 138 of the female dispenser member 112 deflect to firmlyengage the radially inward facing surface of coreless film rolls R thatcontract after manufacturing. After a manufacturer produces corelessfilm rolls R with an initial internal diameter, the film contracts overtime, resulting in roll axis passages P that have reduced internaldiameters that are less than the initial internal diameter. The combinedadjustability of the dispenser 110 in the first and second angularpositions may permit the dispenser to operatively engage any film roll Rmanufactured to have an initial internal diameter that has contracted toa reduced internal diameter within a certain range of the initialinternal diameter. For example, in one or more embodiments, the fingers138 of the female dispenser member 112 deflect radially outwardly tofirmly engage film rolls R that have a reduced internal diameter of fromabout 85% to about 97%, from about 86% to about 95%, or from about 87%to about 93% of an initial manufactured internal diameter. In otherembodiments, the distances D1, D2 at which the fingers 138 are spacedapart from one another in the first and second angular positions areeach from about 85% to about 97%, from about 86% to about 95%, or fromabout 87% to about 93% of an initial internal diameter of a film roll Ras it is manufactured.

It will be understood that, in the illustrated embodiment, the radiallyoutward facing surfaces of the ribs 160 function as an expandableoutward facing surface of the female dispenser member 112. Moreover, byselecting between the first and second angular positions, a user canadjust the radial position of the expandable outward facing surface ofthe female dispenser member 112 to engage the radially inward facingsurfaces of any of a plurality of film rolls R having roll axis passagesP of different radial dimensions. The splines 210 of the male dispensermember 114 fix the dispenser members 112, 114 in a selected one of thefirst and second angular positions so that the deflectable outwardfacing surface of the female dispenser member 112 remains firmly engagedwith the radially inward facing surface of the film roll R in use.

Although the illustrated embodiment uses the indexing splines 210 andindexing slots 140 as indexing formations to fix the dispenser members112, 114 in either of the first and second angular positions, it will beunderstood that other embodiments can use other types of indexingformations to inhibit angular displacement of one of the dispensermembers relative to the other from selected angular positions. Moreover,though the illustrated embodiment includes indexing formations 140, 210that index the dispenser members 112, 114 in two angular positions,other embodiments can index dispenser members in other numbers ofangular positions without departing from the scope of the invention.Preferably, the dispenser members will include one or more indexingformations that fix the dispenser members in a plurality of angularpositions, each of which causing expansion of an outer radial surface ofone of the dispenser members to firmly engage a radially inward facingsurface of a film roll with a roll axis passage of a different radialdimension.

Referring again to FIG. 7, the mating portion 210 of the male dispensermember 114 comprises an axially inward facing support wall 212 extendingtransverse (e.g., perpendicular) to the longitudinal axis L2. The inwardfacing support wall 212 is located in the inner axial end portion 202 ofthe cylindrical body 204. As shown in FIG. 2, when the dispenser members112, 114 are joined together to form the dispenser hub 116, the inwardfacing support wall 212 can engage the opposed inward facing supportwall 150 of the female dispenser member 112. Within the roll axispassage P, the engaged support walls 212 provide radial support for anaxially central portion of the film roll R to inhibit the film roll fromdeforming radially inwardly in use.

The support wall 212 is configured for interlocking engagement with thesupport wall 150 of the female dispenser member 112. As shown in FIG. 7,the support wall 212 of the male dispenser member 114 includes a cup 214(broadly, an interlocking formation). As shown in FIG. 2, when themating portion 210 of the male dispenser member 114 is received in themating socket 142 of the female dispenser member 112, the axiallyextending projection 152 of the female dispenser member is received inthe cup 214. The cup can, in certain embodiments, be sized to form aninterference or friction fit with the projection 152 received therein.

The cup 214 and the projection 152 are positioned relative therespective dispenser member 112, 114 to be radially aligned when thedispenser members are received in a roll axis passage P. In that regard,the male dispenser member 114 includes a funnel surface 216 surroundingthe cup 214 that can engage and guide the projection 152 into the cup.In the illustrated embodiment, the cup 214 is centered on thelongitudinal center axis L2 of the male dispenser member 114, and theprojection 152 is centered around the longitudinal center axis L1 of thefemale dispenser member 112. When the female and male dispenser members112, 114 are received in the roll axis passage P, their interengagementalso makes the longitudinal axes L1, L2 of the dispenser membersgenerally co-axial, thereby allowing the tapered end of the matingportion 206 to enter the mating socket 142. Although the interlockingprojection 152 and cup 214 are radially centered in the illustratedembodiment, it will be understood that the interlocking formations couldbe radially aligned at other non-centered positions without departingfrom the scope of the invention.

The support walls 150, 212 are shaped and arranged so that theprojection 152 is automatically received in the cup 214 as the dispensermembers 112, 114 are joined together within a roll axis passage P of thecoreless film roll R. The female dispenser member 112 is configured tobe inserted into a first opening O of the roll axis passage P by movingthe dispenser member through the first opening along the longitudinalaxis L1. Likewise, the male dispenser member 114 is configured to beinserted into the opposite second opening O of the roll axis passage Pby moving the dispenser member through the roll axis passage along thelongitudinal axis L2. Reception of the mating portion 206 of the maledispenser member 114 in the mating socket 142 of the female dispensermember 112 begins to bring the female and male dispenser members intoalignment. The tapered inner axial end of the mating portion 206 of themale dispenser member 114 facilitates entry of the mating portion to themating socket 142. More precise alignment is achieved when theprojection 152 engages the funnel surface 216 and is guided into the cup214. No additional positional adjustment (e.g., radial or angularadjustment) beyond inserting the dispenser members 112, 114 axially intoopposite ends of the roll axis passage P is required to insert theprojection 152 into the cup 214 and thereby create a rigid connectionbetween the support walls 150, 212.

The interlocking engagement between the cup 214 and the projection 152provides a rigid connection between the support walls 150, 212. When thedispenser members 112, 114 are joined together within the roll axispassage P, the support walls 150, 212 span generally the entire radialextent of the roll axis passage. Each wall 150, 212 functions,individually, as a support structure that supports the film roll Ragainst bowing or otherwise deforming radially inwardly near the axiallycentral region of the film roll. With the projection 152 engaging thecup 214, the support walls 150, 212 form a rigid connection between thedispenser members 112, 114 within the film roll R. Together, the rigidlyconnected support walls 150, 212 provide radial support for the centralregion of film roll R and inhibit significant deformation of the filmroll adjacent the central region of the film roll.

It will be understood that other types of interlocking formations otherthan the projection 152 and cup-shaped surface 212 could be used tocreate a rigid connection between the dispenser members withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention. For example, it isspecifically contemplated that the male dispenser member could include asupport wall defining an axially inwardly extending projectionconfigured to be received in a cup formed in a support wall of thefemale dispenser member. Still other interlocking formations andconfigurations can be used without departing from the scope of theinvention.

Like the female dispenser member 112, the male dispenser member 114includes eight ribs 220 that slope inwardly from adjacent the outeraxial end of the cylindrical body 204. When the male dispenser member114 is inserted into the second opening O of the roll axis passage P,the ribs 120 firmly engage the radially inward facing surface of thefilm roll R to provide radial support for the respective axial end ofthe film roll.

In use, a user inserts the female dispenser member 112 into the firstopening O of a roll axis passage P and inserts the male dispenser member114 into the second opening O of the roll axis passage. For the femaledispenser member 112, the user may compress the fingers 138 radiallyinwardly to facilitate insertion into the roll axis passage P. If theroll axis passage has a relatively small radial dimension, the dispensermembers 112, 114 should be angularly aligned so that the indexing slots140 receive the indexing splines 210 as the mating portion 206 of themale dispenser member is received in the mating socket 142 of the femaledispenser member. If the roll axis passage P has a relatively largeradial dimension, the dispenser members 112, 114 should be angularlyaligned so that the indexing splines 210 are angularly aligned with thefingers 138 as the mating portion 206 is received in the mating socket142. Suitable markings (not shown) may be provided on the dispensermembers 112, 114 to facilitate the proper rotational alignment. Ineither case, the user inserts the dispenser members 112, 114 into thefirst and second openings O of the roll axis passage P until theradially outward facing surfaces of the ribs 160 firmly engage theradially inward facing surface of the film roll R. As the fingers 138are being deflected radially outwardly, the projection 152 issimultaneously being received in the cup 214, without any radial orangular positional adjustment of the dispenser members 112, 114 on thepart of the user. When the fingers 138 firmly engage the radially inwardfacing surface of the film roll R, the dispenser members 112, 114 arejoined together and form the dispenser hub 116. Additionally, inner andouter axial end portions of the ribs 160 of the female dispenser member112 and the ribs 220 of the male dispenser member engage the inwardfacing surface of the film roll to inhibit rotation of the film rollwith respect to the dispenser hub in use.

A user grasps the handle members 118, 120 and secures the free end F ofthe film to the item to be wrapped. While holding the handle members118, 120, the user passes the film dispenser 110 and film roll R aroundthe item in a wrapping direction. The movement of the dispenser 110 inthe wrapping direction creates tension in the film that causes the filmto unwind from the roll R. The film roll R and core hub 116 freelyrotate together on the handle members 118, 120 to let out film from theroll R. The support walls 150, 212 provide radial support for thecentral portion of the film roll R in use to prevent the film roll frombowing or otherwise deforming radially inward into the roll axis passageP. When the item is fully wrapped, the film can be cut to detach thedispenser 110 from the wrapped object. As film is wound off from thefilm roll R, the support walls 150, 212 continue to provide radialsupport for central region of the film roll, even though the film rollitself reduces in diameter and becomes more deformable. When all thefilm from a first film roll R has been used or a new film roll isdesired, the dispenser 110 can be quickly and easily inserted into theroll axis passage of another film roll, even if the roll axis passage ofthe other film roll is sized differently than the first film roll.

When introducing elements of the present invention or the preferredembodiment(s) thereof, the articles “a”, “an”, “the” and “said” areintended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms“comprising”, “including” and “having” are intended to be inclusive andmean that there may be additional elements other than the listedelements.

As various changes could be made in the above apparatuses, systems, andmethods without departing from the scope of the invention, it isintended that all matter contained in the above description and shown inthe accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and notin a limiting sense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A film dispenser for use in unwinding film fromcoreless film rolls each having a roll axis passage including first andsecond openings at opposite ends of the coreless film roll, the filmdispenser comprising: a first dispenser member having an outer axial endportion and an inner axial end portion opposite the outer axial endportion, the inner axial end portion of the first dispenser member beingshaped and arranged to be inserted into the first opening at one end ofthe coreless film roll, the inner axial end portion of the firstdispenser member being radially expandable to engage the coreless filmroll in the roll axis passage; and a second dispenser member having anouter axial end portion and an inner axial end portion opposite theouter axial end portion, the inner axial end portion of the seconddispenser member being shaped and arranged to be inserted into thesecond opening at another end of the coreless film roll, the seconddispenser member being configured to engage the first dispenser member,the first and second dispenser members being selectively positionablerelative to one another when interengaged in at least a first angularposition and a second angular position, the inner axial end portion ofthe first dispenser member having a first radial position uponengagement of the first and second dispenser members in the firstangular position, and the inner axial end portion of the first dispensermember being expanded to a second radial position upon engagement of thefirst and second dispenser members in the second angular position, thesecond radial position being radially outward of the first radialposition.
 2. A film dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the firstdispenser member radially expands to the first radial position uponengagement with the second dispenser in the first angular position.
 3. Afilm dispenser as set forth in claim 1 wherein the second dispensermember comprises a radially outwardly extending indexing spline.
 4. Afilm dispenser as set forth in claim 3 wherein the first dispensermember comprises an indexing slot.
 5. A film dispenser as set forth inclaim 4 wherein the indexing slot is sized and shaped to receive theindexing spline therein in the first angular position of the dispensermembers.
 6. A film dispenser as set forth in claim 5 wherein the seconddispenser member comprises radially outward facing surface and theindexing spline extends radially outward from the radially outwardfacing surface.
 7. A film dispenser as set forth in claim 6 wherein theradially outward facing surface of the second dispenser member isconfigured to engage a radially inward facing surface of the firstdispenser member and thereby expand the radially outward facing surfaceof the first dispenser member outwardly to the first radial positionwhen the first and second dispenser members are in the first angularposition.
 8. A film dispenser as set forth in claim 3 wherein the inneraxial end portion of the first dispenser member comprises at least oneradially deflectable axially extending finger.
 9. A film dispenser asset forth in claim 1 wherein the inner axial end portion of the firstdispenser member comprises at least one radially deflectable axiallyextending finger.
 10. A film dispenser as set forth in claim 9 whereinthe second dispenser member comprises an indexing spline configured toengage a radially inward facing surface of the axially extending fingerand deflect the finger radially outward to the second radial positionwhen the first and second dispenser members are in the second angularposition.
 11. A film dispenser for use in unwinding film from corelessfilm rolls each having a roll axis passage including first and secondopenings at opposite ends of the coreless film roll, the film dispensercomprising: a first dispenser member having a longitudinal axis, anouter axial end portion, and an inner axial end portion spaced apartfrom the outer axial end portion along the longitudinal axis, the inneraxial end portion of the first dispenser member being shaped andarranged to be inserted into a first opening of a roll axis passage ofthe film roll, the first dispenser member further comprising an axiallyinward facing support wall including a first interlocking formation; anda second dispenser member having a longitudinal axis, an outer axial endportion, and an inner axial end portion spaced apart from the outeraxial end portion along the longitudinal axis, the inner axial endportion of the second dispenser member being shaped and arranged to beinserted into the second opening of the roll axis passage, the seconddispenser member being shaped and arranged to engage the first dispensermember, the second dispenser member further comprising an axially inwardfacing support wall including a second interlocking formation configuredfor interlocking engagement with the first interlocking formation whenthe second dispenser member engages the first dispenser member withinthe roll axis passage for supporting an axial mid-portion of thecoreless film roll.
 12. A film dispenser as set forth in claim 11wherein the engagement of the first and second interlocking formationsis configured to resist movement of the first and second dispensermembers away from a substantially co-axial position.
 13. A filmdispenser as set forth in claim 12 wherein one of the first and secondinterlocking formations comprises a projection located radially inwardof the support wall of the one of the first and second dispenser membersand the other of the first and second interlocking formations defines arecess for receiving the projection, the recess being located radiallyinward of the support wall of the other of the first and seconddispenser members.
 14. A film dispenser as set forth in claim 11 whereinthe second interlocking formation is configured to align the first andsecond dispenser members upon engagement of the first interlockingformation with the second interlocking formation.
 15. A film dispenseras set forth in claim 14 wherein the first interlocking formationcomprises a projection and the second interlocking formation defines arecess for receiving the projection and a funnel surface adjacent therecess for guiding the projection into the recess.
 16. A film dispenseras set forth in claim 11 wherein the first dispenser member isconfigured to be inserted into the first opening of the roll axispassage by moving the first dispenser member relative to the film rollalong the longitudinal axis of the first dispenser member and whereinthe second dispenser member is configured to be inserted into the secondopening of the roll axis passage by moving the second dispenser memberrelative to the film roll along the longitudinal axis of the seconddispenser member.
 17. A film dispenser as set forth in claim 11 whereinthe first dispenser member comprises a mating socket.
 18. A filmdispenser as set forth in claim 17 wherein the second dispenser membercomprises a mating portion configured to be received in the matingsocket of the first dispenser member when the first and second dispensermembers are received in the roll axis passage of the coreless film roll.19. A film dispenser as set forth in claim 18 wherein the support wallof the first dispenser member bounds an outer axial end portion of themating socket and wherein the support wall of the second dispensermember is positioned adjacent an inner axial end portion of the matingportion.
 20. A film dispenser as set forth in claim 18 wherein themating portion of the second dispenser member is configured to engagethe inner axial end portion of the first dispenser member in the matingsocket to expand the inner axial end portion when the mating portion isreceived in the mating socket.
 21. A film dispenser as set forth inclaim 11 wherein the axially inward facing support wall of the firstdispenser member is located at an axial end of the first dispensermember and the axially inward facing support wall of the seconddispenser member is located at an axial end of the second dispensermember, the first and second dispenser members being arranged to engageeach other when the first and second dispenser members are engaged.